Voluntary savings help Nyanga farmers to buy inputs

Blessing Rwizi

HUGE financial gains being generated from Voluntary Savings And Lending activities popularly known as “mukando” have helped tackle farming inputs challenges among smallholder farmers in Buhera, Nyanga, Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.

Since 2013, hundreds of resource-poor farmers have in these districts joined VSL groups of at least 10 people each, revived with support from the “Promoting Smallholder Market Engagement Project” being implemented by Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe (FCTZ) and Zambuko Trust.

Practical Action manages the funding from Big Lottery Fund. Profits generated are now enabling farmers to purchase inputs such as fertiliser, seed and pay irrigation water bills.

Most of them are also able to construct houses, toilets and send their children to school.

The success was attributed to the fact that about 90 percent of VSL participants are women.

Mrs Hamuzvirege Nyabudukuru (40), a farmer at Block B of Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme in Nyanga is one of the beneficiaries of the Promoting Smallholder Market Engagement Project being implemented in 11 irrigation schemes in Manicaland Province.

“Farming has been difficult for us before 2013, but ever since I joined two VSL groups in 2013, borrowing different amounts of money at a monthly interest of 20 percent, I managed to buy a scotch cut, a plough and built a toilet at my house using the gains of around $800 from the fund. The scotch cart is our cash cow now and every season, I now find it easier to buy my fertiliser and seed among other inputs.

“Since then after harvesting every month I remove money for other farming expenses and remain with 70 percent profit,” said Mrs Nyabudukuru.

She added that she also managed to send her two children to a boarding school through the money that she was earning from VSLs.

Zambuko Trust savings and lending project officer, Mr Richard Huchena, said:

“The project started in 2013 and is ending this month. We believe that farmers at the 11 irrigation schemes in Manicaland are now at a stage where they can continue on their own using the ideas that we injected into them.”